SUNDAY, Feb. 18 (HealthDay News) -- There's a new bilingual handbook designed to help Hispanic parents in the United States recognize attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in their children.
The free booklet, from the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, also has information on the rights of children with ADHD to obtain a quality education and support services in the public school system.
"Hispanic parents need to know what (ADHD) is and that they can make a dramatic difference in the educational opportunities that are made available. We intend to help parents get the services their children need to be successful learners," Dr. Jane. L. Delgado, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, said in a prepared statement.
Along with the release of the handbook, the Alliance announced that it will offer personalized assistance to parents of children with ADHD through its Su Familia (Your Family) National Hispanic Family Health Helpline (1-866-783-2645).
The new booklet, Educational Rights for Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD): A Primer for Parents, can also be ordered free of charge by calling the helpline.
The 2003 National Survey of Children's Health found that more than 300,000 Hispanic children in the United States had been diagnosed with ADHD.
The alliance's new booklet offers a step-by-step explanation of the federally-mandated policies and procedures that public schools are required to follow in order to provide appropriate education to children with disabilities.
There are also resources and scenarios that can help Hispanic parents determine if their child needs to be evaluated for ADHD, along with advice on how parents can ensure their children get the support they require.
The booklet was a collaborative effort between the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and the National Resource Center on AD/HD, a program of the Children and Adults With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more about ADHD.